The film won three of the Tiffany-designed trophies, including Best Director for Ramsey, Best Actress for Tilda Swinton, and the Princess Dialta Alliata di Montereale Award for Best Film.

More than 400 guests gathered on the lawn at the Moana to witness the event, while mingling with filmmakers and celebs, including cast members from “Hawaii Five-O” and ABC’s dramatic thriller, “The River.”

Other award winners were Peter Mullan, named Best Actor for his role in Paddy Considine’s “Tyrannosaur” (Ireland), and in the Hawaii student filmmaker competition, Lana Dang of the Academy for Creative Media at the University of Hawaii at Manoa won $3,000 for the Best Student Film, “Pa‘ahana.”

But the most excitement of the evening greeted young British actor Gregg Sulkin, a charmer best known for his appearances on Disney’s “The Wizards of Waverly Place,” and soon to make his big screen appearance in the feature film “White Frog.” The film is about a high-school student, played by The Twilight Saga’s Booboo Stewart, with mild Asperger’s syndrome. The film is directed by Quentin Lee, produced by Chris Lee, and also features Kelly Hu, who attended the event. Sulkin received the first EuroCinema Hawai‘i Rising Star Award.

Banners and a red carpet signaled something big happening at the Moana. Before guests started arriving, tourists snapped their own pictures on the red carpet.

The EuroCinema Hawai‘i Jury selecting the award winners were American Film Institute professor and film producer Dr. Barry Sabath, The Doris Duke at the Honolulu Academy of Arts film curator Gina Caruso, Cinema Paradise Film Festival director Chris Kahunahana and Honolulu Weekly film critic Ryan Senaga.

In addition to the winning films, this year’s lineup in the film festival continuing through Oct. 23 are “The Artist” (France), “The Fairy” (Belgium), “The Salt of Life” (Italy), “The Kid With a Bike” (Belgium), and “Le Havre” (Finland, France, Germany), as well as the World Film Foundation’s restored digital print of the Fellini classic “La Dolce Vita.” Find out more at www.eurocinemahawaii.org.

Founded in 2009, EuroCinema Hawai ‘i is dedicated to increasing the cultural relations between Hawaii and Europe, and to providing financial support Hawaii-based student filmmakers through annual scholarships and financial awards.

Excitement for the event built up early, beginning with limousine arrivals in front of the Moana, were dozens of tourists lined up to see what was going on, joining the papparazzi in taking photos of guests in gowns and black tie.

Inside, Malika Dudley welcomed celebs onto the red carpet with impromptu interviews. From there, most gravitated to the bar to sample creations by master mixologist Joey Gottesman, and the EuroCinema Hawaii’s signature cocktail, The Fellini, created by Nobu’s Dave Newman, courtesy of Disaronno and Young’s Market Hawaii.

Board of directors members Patrick Gey, left, and Wanda Watumull, with Rajan Watumull.

Actor Gregg Sulkin brought his mom Jan. In Sulkin, Hawaii film enthusiasts may discovered the next Robert Pattinson. His star quality was recognized with the inaugural EuroCinema Hawai’i Rising Star Award.

Several groups of friends gathered to have their photos taken on the red carpet.

Last year, EuroCinema Hawai’i partnered with the Hawai’i International Film Festival to create a festival within a festival, and HIFF executive director Chuck Boller, left, was there to show his support, with Qi Marie and John Michael White.

Terry O’Quinn of “Lost” and “Hawaii Five-O,” met the competition in Daniel Zacapa, who’s in the cast of “The River,” set to debut on ABC early next year. Elizabeth Lum enjoyed meeting the stars.(more…)

There’s still time to get over to Victoria’s Secret’s new Waikiki Shopping Plaza boutique on Kalakaua Avenue, where VS Angel Alessandra Ambrosio will be greeting fans and posing for photos from 6 to 8 p.m. today to celebrate the store’s grand opening.

The Brazilian model was at the beach fronting the Royal Hawaiian Hotel this morning for a media photo op, posing with a pink-and-white striped Victoria’s Secret surfboard, followed by brief in-store videos.

Alessandra was the first spokesmodel for the brand’s PINK collegiate line in 2004, and has appeared in 10 of the “Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show” televised events. The next one will take place Nov. 9 on CBS, and will feature performances by Kanye West and Maroon 5, but with the designers at work on the garments for the visual spectacle, Alessandra said she doesn’t know what she’ll be wearing.

Knowing that millions of people tune in to the special, she said that when she does see her ensembles for the first time, she works out accordingly.

“I think, well, do I need to work on my belly or my legs. I concentrate on what part is going to be exposed,” she said.

Umm, well, to me, it seems like every part is exposed, considering they’re in the business of selling bras, panties and other intimate wear!

She said she’s always amazed by what the designers come up with, and considering the size of the wings the angels don for the production, she said she tries to rehearse as much as she can.